Podcasting...

I spent pretty much all of February listening to hours and hours and hours of podcasts, so why not post them? Summaries taken from each podcast's respective website.


Ask Me Another (NPR)
"Ask Me Another blends brainteasers and local pub trivia night with comedy and music into a rambunctious hour-long show.

Fantastic for keeping me awake on my two-hour commute to work. The trivia is fun, but it's really the interactions (and awful puns) that make AMA so much fun. Plus, there are usually celebrity guests!




Click (BBC)
“the best debate on global technology, social media and the internet,” or “your guide to all the latest gadgets, websites, games and computer industry news”

Fun and conversational updates on technology.






Discovery (BBC)
"Explorations in the world of science."

'Explorations' is exactly the right word for Discovery. The podcast spends about 20 minutes exploring random issues in science, from editing the genome to Einstein's refrigerator patent.






Faith Middleton Food Schmooze (NPR)
Faith and her foodie friends talk about food, share recipes, review cookbooks, and make you SUPER hungry.





  

Freakonomics 
 "...surprising conversations that explore the riddles of everyday life and the weird wrinkles of human nature... with Nobel laureates and provocateurs, social scientists and entrepreneurs" 


 
Fresh Air (NPR)
 "Hosted by Terry Gross, the show features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries."

Interviews and other interesting tidbits on a variety of contemporary subjects. Terry's interviews are great (and it seems like she's interviewed everyone at some point...)



Graham Norton (BBC)
"Graham hosts a vibrant Saturday mix of music, problems and celebrity chat."

Graham Norton is a talk show host for the BBC (pretty much the best talk show host ever, check him out)... and this is his podcast.

Inside Science (BBC)
"...illuminate the mysteries and challenge the controversies behind the science that's changing our world."

More quick stories about random scientific discoveries and problems.


NPR Books (NPR)
A mix of 4-5 minute reviews and 20-30 minute interviews with authors.



NPR Interviews (NPR)
Gathers together a host of interviews from other NPR podcasts: scientists, authors, actors, politicians, comedians, regular people.


NPR Movies (NPR)
5-10 minute reviews of upcoming movies, including many movies I otherwise would never have discovered. Also gathers together movie topics from other NPR podcasts.


NPR Politics (NPR)
 "...where NPR's political reporters talk to you like they talk to each other. With weekly roundups, quick takes on news of the day, and reporting from the campaign trail, you don't have to keep up with politics to know what's happening this election year. You just have to keep up with us."

A relaxed, conversational, and well-informed take on current American politics.


NPR Technology (NPR)
Quick 3-5 minute updates on new advances in technology.

NPR World (NPR)
Quick, 5-10 minute updates on current politics and social issues around the world.


Science Hour (BBC)
"Science, health and technology news and highlights of the week."

More science! I think I'm noticing a trend. This one gets a little deeper into the subjects it covers.







 Seriously... (BBC)
"A rich selection of documentaries aimed at relentlessly curious minds. No subject is too strange, no idea too weird."




 
TED Radio Hour (NPR)
 "The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas: astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, new ways to think and create. Based on Talks given by riveting speakers on the world-renowned TED stage..."

Unlike the Ted Talks podcast below, this gathers together several TED talks on similar topics, and knits them together with interviews and new information.



Ted Talks Audio
Audio from new and popular TED Talks. These can be a little frustrating if the TED presenter uses a lot of visual information in their talk.




Wait Wait Don't Tell Me (NPR)
"NPR's weekly current events quiz. Have a laugh and test your news knowledge while figuring out what's real and what we've made up."
 

Very similar to Ask Me Another (I couldn't tell the difference until I moved from radio to podcast).

For Exposure // Jason Sizemore

Why I'm reading
It seemed interesting; I like Scifi, and I’m sort of interested in publishing. Plus the cover was pretty awesome. Ironically, a few chapters in, Sizemore mentions the cover art was fairly influential in getting people to pick up his new magazine.

Where I got the book
An eBook that I vaguely remember requesting from LibraryThing’s early reviewer giveaway.

Expectations
Well, LT early reviewers summary is what I was working with:

“In this collection of semi-true and sometimes humorous essays, Jason exposes the parties, people, and triumphs that shaped him into the Apex Overlord. He also lays bare the hardships and failures that have threatened to take it all away. Meet Thong Girl, heed the warning about the ham, receive rest stop bathroom wisdom, and visit an emergency room straight out of a horror movie in this extraordinary account of life as a publisher and editor.”

So how was it?

Okay, first of all, it took me nearly a month to finally get myself to read past the first few paragraphs. It was just… weirdly religious, out of the blue, and had nothing to do with publishing. Then I promised myself I’d sit down and read through at least a chapter, and couldn’t put it down.

It’s more or less what LibraryThing described: humorous autobiographical essays, starting with the author’s early life -- a strange mixture of rural Baptist Christianity and Scifi/horror movies -- before moving quickly into the world of fandom and publishing. What really sets this book apart is the writing. The whole “humorous semi-autobiographical essay” genre is full of fun and engaging writing, but Sizemore is unexpectedly sharp and smart. It doesn’t feel like he’s trying too hard to be Witty and impart a Meaningful Message (or, like a lot of the humorous essays I read, a Meaningful Feeling Without Any Actual Point). Something about the writing reminds me of… well, a good Scifi author.

Also notable are the rebuttal essays, written by friends and colleagues, interspersed between chapters. While they're not the funniest part of the book, they provide a second point of view for many of the events he describes, so it feels less like a novelization.

If you’re only looking for insight into the publishing world, this probably isn’t really the book you want. It’s very specific to the world of small, independent Scifi/horror genre magazine publishing.

All 70+ issues of Apex Magazine are available in eBook format. 

Recommendation
Anyone interested in the world of Scifi, short stories, or conventions. Heck, anyone even close to interested; three chapters in, and I was ready to check out every short story collection Greenwich has (...and I cataloged most of them, so…)

Feels
Sharp, smart, blunt, with more action than navel-gazing. He explains the inspiration and creation of Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest in just 303 words, and it’s well done. That’s the kind of thing most authors would needlessly drag out for a chapter or two.

Favorites
The writing, by far -- which means I’m tempted to just copy out all the best sections. But that would take up way too much space. Also, his early con experiences. Both exemplified in this quote:

“Don’t you want to eat something, first? The ham is delicious.”
No. I would not have any ham. The juxtaposition of human thighs and honey-baked ham made me blanch. I wrenched the door opened and rushed out of there.

Least favorites
The prologue. It's not poorly written, but it was a bit too much right off the bat.

Writing style
He’s got a big vocabulary, and knows how to use it. And no, I don’t mean the kind of author who thumbs through their thesaurus looking for fancy words. 

Gumption // Nick Offerman {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
Two words: Nick Offerman.

Where I got the book
Audiobook from the Greenwich library, read by the author.

Expectations
I've seen interviews with him, so I know he's an odd mix of his Parks and Rec character and a stereotypical touchy-feely actor. Surprisingly not contradictory.

So how was it?

In Gumption, Offerman covers a hodge-podge group of "great Americans." He meanders from one to the other in a very conversational way, with all sorts of side notes and personal anecdotes. And, of course: meat, woodworking, politics, and manliness.

Recommendation
Fans of any kind of American history; he doesn't contain himself to the usual "great Americans."

Feels
Like a rambling one-sided conversation-cum-monologue, probably over a pint in a pub.

Favorites
Offerman includes a surprising number of women "great Americans," and it's not at all pandering.

Least favorites
I could've done with a little more structure.

Writing style
I haven't read Paddle Your Own Canoe, his autobiography, so I wasn't ready for the utter verbosity! He writes like someone with a thesaurus open at their elbow -- no, that's not right. He writes like someone who occasionally enjoys reading the thesaurus. Surprisingly not as annoying as it should be.

The Art of the English Murder // Lucy Worsley {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
This somehow made it onto my to-read list while I was bookmarking Sherlock Holmes audiobooks. I needed something non-fiction after finishing the Hunger Games series.

Where I got the book
Greenwich/Overdrive.

Expectations
I barely read the title before clicking… but hey, Sherlock Holmes.

So how was it?

Once I got past my innate urge to start taking notes, this was pretty interesting! It explores the historical context behind the English murder-mystery genre: when it started, its predecessors (Gothic novels, penny-dreadfuls, melodrama, theater), historical and cultural contexts (capital punishment, crime, famous murderers, the development of police and detective agencies, literacy), and its continued influence and popularity. It was actually very appropriate for having just finished the Hunger Games series (even moreso than BBC Sherlock).

Recommendation
Fans of murder-mysteries and crime dramas (looking at you, CSI) will enjoy this -- but it’s  non-fiction, so no plot or drama.

I would actually recommend reading this after the Hunger Games series, if you need some time to recover -- both of them deal with the spectacle of death and murder.

Feels
Informative, but not too dry. Well organized.

Favorites
Reading about the development of police and police detectives was interesting -- something so obvious as a government-run police force, or even individuals who figure out crimes based on any kind of evidence (not just forensic evidence!), was apparently controversial. Like, “oh no, it couldn’t be him, he’s such a nice guy!” was a legitimate defense. The author also pays attention to women throughout the book, which is pretty cool. Female authors, female murderers, female detectives, and female readers are all included as part of the narrative, not as a side note or subsumed by the male perspective.

Least favorites
I’m surprised the book never really addressed Sherlock Holmes (or Agatha Christie, or Colombo, or any other detectives) in TV and movies. Insanely popular shows like CSI are a pretty obvious heir to the murder-mystery detective genre. This was published in 2013 so there’s really no excuse.

Dad is Fat // Jim Gaffigin {Audiobook}

Why I'm reading
It was sitting in my 'to read' queue, from back when I thought it was possible (and a good idea) to go through the entire humor and Scifi audiobook offerings in Overdrive. Yeah. Also, I was in the mood for humor, after officially running out of Sherlock Podfics (yeah, that's a thing now!) 

I have zero interest in (having, teaching, librarian-ing, or otherwise interacting with) kids, but I like Gaffigan's stand-up, and comedy about kids can be pretty funny.

Where I got the book
Overdrive!

Expectations
Mild humor about the funny/annoying parts of parenting.

So how was it?

Pretty good! Not as good as his stand-up, but I suppressed a few chortles. The entire thing is about kids and parenthood, so no surprise there. He's got five kids (wow) and lives in a small New York apartment (...wow).

Recommendation
The target demographic is obviously parents -- down-to-earth parents, parents with several children, working parents, etc. But you don't need to be a parent (or even like kids) to get the humor.

Feels
Positive, down-to-earth. "Family friendly" in the sense that he doesn't swear, but also in the sense that he the kind of things labeled "family friendly."

Favorites
Gaffigin is clearly a very involved father, and it's good to hear a man's voice/perspective on parenting. This kind of thing is important to breaking up traditional ideas of gender.

Least favorites
Eh, some parts can be a little fixated on gender roles -- not enforcing them, as such, but there's still an uncomfortable amount of "women are naturally mothering," and "men parent this way." But even so, most of what he says is specifically about him and his wife, and there's nothing wrong with choosing to fill a gender role; he just slips into traditional ideas of gender more than I'd like. It's more of a language issue than anything.

Writing style
Very similar to his stand-up, with great segue between individual stories.

Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us // Allen Salkin {Audiobook}

Why I'm listening
Another audiobook for the airplane, although I didn’t really get into it, and ended up half-ignoring it at work.

Where I got the book
Greenwich (again!)

Expectations
A book about festivus? I guess?

So how was it?

Pretty much the history of Festivus. Not terribly interesting, but good background noise.

Recommendation
If you don’t know what Festivus is, it’s not the book for you.

Feels
Fun, lighthearted, actually informational.

Favorites
What they did with it in Seinfeld (which... wasn’t really part of the book.)

Least favorites
It was less funny and more informational than I was expecting.

How Did You Get This Number? // Sloane Crosley {Audiobook}

Why I'm listening
I was just looking for something slightly humorous, and I liked the squinty suspicious bear on the cover.

Where I got the book
Greenwich

Expectations
Funny essays.

So how was it?

Honestly? Not memorable. I’m writing this a few months after listening (oops!) and I had to look up what it was about. And yeah, it really was just a bunch of amusing essays/stories from a young woman who lives in New York. But I liked it well enough.

Recommendation
Good background noise while you’re doing something mindless.

Feels
Amusing, but not laugh-out-loud funny.

Favorites
Her nature outing with a bunch of fellow bridesmaids.

Least favorites
Well, it wasn’t laugh-out-loud funny.

Writing style
Honest, not too much navel-gazing.

Not My Father's Son // Alan Cumming {Audiobook}

I’m quickly coming to the realization that memoirs make great audiobooks, especially when they’re read by the authors. Unfortunately I’m tearing through the small number of audiobook-celebrity-memoirs, at least the ones I’m interested in.  

Why I'm reading
Alan Cumming is one of my (many, many, many) long-standing celebrity crushes.

Where I got the book
Greenwich Library, audiobook. I’d passed this by before, but decided to pick it up this time because I wasn’t in a sci fi mood.

Expectations
I know the basics of his life, but I haven’t really delved into it much.

So how was it?

Wow, I had no idea Alan Cumming was abused as a child, let alone so severely. I can’t imagine how hard it was for him to put this all out there for the public to read; at one point, he explains that he tries to live his life as openly as possible, and he’s not kidding.

I was expecting your standard “my life up ‘til now” memoir, which is not what I got. The book specifically focuses on Cumming’s father, and family history on his mother’s side. He starred in an episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, discovering some unfortunate things about his grandfather on his mother’s side; while shooting the episode, he explains, he was also going through drama with his estranged father. I actually just watched this episode -- like, paused it halfway through, went to bed, went to work, then borrowed the audiobook -- and completely forgot about it.

Recommendation
Fans of Alan Cumming, of course. Although I can’t speak from experience, I think it would be a validating and uplifting read for survivors of abusive homes. If you’re just interested in family history (in the historical sense), you’re better off just watching the Who Do You Think You Are? episode.

Feels
Both devastating and uplifting. Cumming is surprisingly frank about everything, and it somehow does not feel uncomfortable.

Writing style
Honest, dramatic, paints a colorful picture.

(Sh)It Doesn't Just Happen // Bob Mayer

Why I'm reading
Seemed kinda interesting: a Green Beret's take on some famous historical disasters. The first disaster he covers is the Titanic, and I used to be huge into the Titanic in 3rd grade... yes, right before the movie came out, and no, I was not happy to discover it was a romantic drama instead of an IMAX documentary.

Where I got the book
Another free eBook from LibraryThing Early Reviewers!

Expectations
I didn't really go into this with a lot of expectations, but in retrospect I was expecting more thorough research.

So how was it?

This book might have turned out well -- if someone ran it through a very heavy-handed editor first. And I don't mean the kind of editor who decided you can't start a book with the word "shit," and certainly can't put it in the title. (Yeah, that little change makes the first few lines of this book relatively incoherent. Meanwhile, the word "shit" is censored to sh!t throughout the book -- was this written by a twelve year old?) I mean the kind of editor who will tell you when you haven't supported your argument or need to cut down on the lists. And fix the occasional typo.

The premise of the book -- military trained disaster expert commenting on various historical disasters -- is fairly interesting. I wouldn't think poorly of someone for enjoying it. But unfortunately, it's written and argued like a third grade persuasive essay. He actually ends his introduction by repeating what is clearly his 'thesis statement,' and follows it up with "That is the purpose of this book."

Mayer is heavy on number lists (humans love threes and sevens!). Rule of 7, seven catastrophes. Three reasons to read this book, three reasons to listen to me, three benefits of catastrophe thinking. He insists that it's always seven failures that lead to catastrophe -- never less! -- and fluffs most of his catastrophes to round out the number. He's also heavy on code words. Every single facet of an idea has its own code word, defined at the end of the chapter (the intro includes, but is not limited to: "No-do-over," "Sh!t Happens," "Cascade Event," "Final Event," "Delusion Event," "The Gift of Failure"). One code word is confusingly similar to a common cognitive bias ("Halo effect") but he's using it to mean something entirely different -- and he was a psychology major!

On top of this, he takes a lot of things on faith simply because they make sense to him. He points out that some experts think that binoculars wouldn't have made a difference in the Titanic's fate -- but dismisses it completely ("I'll go with the guy who was there.") Of course you will! If the binoculars wouldn't have made a difference, it invalidates your Rule of 7, that there are a minimum of seven "cascade events," and that stopping any one cascade event will stop the catastrophe!

There were all sorts of other things that drove me up a wall. Mayer counts Custer's failed extermination of Native Americans at Little Big Horn a "catastrophe." He doesn't understand what a Pyrrhic victory is -- I think he confused it with the word "futile." In places you can feel him bending reality to fit his own understanding of the world, like his tangent into how Custer doesn't really count as a real West Point grad (since that would upset his view of military training).

But ultimately, hey, I read the whole thing. The stories were interesting, kind of like reading a Cracked article.

Recommendation
This book would be really great for anyone in charge of disaster planning -- any sort of disaster planning, not just ships/airplanes/military/etc. But it has about as much historical worth as a Cracked article.

Feels
A little bit like an infomercial.

Favorites
I like the idea and the format. And yes, he does make some good points, mostly about disaster preparation (duh) and different ways people can mess up.

Least favorites
Honestly, it's a masterpiece in confirmation bias.

Writing style
3rd grade persuasive essay.

The Complete Joy of Home Brewing // Charlie Papazian

This was a quick read before re-reading The Hobbit to get the taste of the last movie out of my mouth -- blech. I've been the first to defend most of the changes Peter Jackson has made in the past, but TBH the Hobbit trilogy has gone from mildly annoying changes/additions, to extremely annoying and troubling romantic sub-plot, to just bad storytelling regardless of the original plot. 

ANYWAY.

Why I'm reading
I got a home brewing setup for Christmas!!! Including with this and one other book on home brewing. The other book is mostly recipes, so I won't be reviewing it.

Where I got the book
Mom and Poppy.

Expectations
No idea.

So how was it?

It was a little disorganized, but got the point across. I liked that it had a dumbed-down "first brew" section for newbies. The second section got into more complicated types of beers, mainly focusing on the foundations of each beer type so you can develop your own, with a few recipes at the end. The final section was an advanced look at the chemistry behind the brewing process, as well as even more complex techniques.

The tone of the book was friendly and conversational, and while I found the incessant slogan ("Relax. Don't worry. Have a homebrew.") kinda stupid, it always seemed to crop up right when I was getting a little anxious.

Recommendation
Although I don't have anything to compare it to, I would recommend it. As someone with no idea how to brew beer, it was engaging and started with the basics.

Feels
Friendly, engaging, conversational.

Favorites
The table in the intermediate section that lists the bare guidelines for each type of beer, allowing you to build your own recipe.

Least favorites
The organization of information is a little unclear in places -- definitely written by an expert who knows all there is to know about home brewing, but has maybe forgotten what it's like to not know anything, if that makes sense. I'm still not sure how to ferment in plastic buckets vs. glass jars ("carboys").

Writing style
Very clear and understandable, with a heavy focus on chemistry.

The Salmon of Doubt // Douglas Adams

Merry Christmas! Just got home and finished up the last few chapters on The Salmon of Doubt. The condo is a mess, and we got a waffle iron, a beer making kit (!), a battery backup (!?), and the new Rush R40 box set. In other news, I'll be starting my new job on January 6th! Super excited, except for the hour-twenty I'll be driving every other day, like an idiot. 

Why I'm reading
Finishing up the Douglas Adams classics! Although now I realize there are a few non-fictions I haven't read... 

Where I got the book
The Berlin-Peck Memorial Library. I was completely lazy and put a hold online, so they were waiting for me at the front desk. Even though it's a teeny library, and I occasionally work there, and clearly know where the books are.

Expectations
The third Dirk Gently book, unfinished.

So how was it?

Well... it wasn't the third Dirk Gently book. At least mostly not. That is to say, it did include a few chapters of the unfinished third book, but primarily it was, well, an epilogue to a life that ended way too early. It was the contents of Douglas Adams' computer, collected together by friends and family after his all-too-sudden death, as well as a few writings from people who knew him.

It doesn't sound like a great read, does it? But it really, really was. There were lots of little bits of non-fiction writing, which I -- having never read his non-fiction -- greatly appreciated. It was also, in some parts, a biography written by a friend, and you really feel his loss. And no, there's not a whole lot of moaning and groaning about it, because it's not necessary to realize what a great person and author the world has lost. What he wrote, and the stories about his life, do that perfectly well on their own.

Recommendation
A MUST READ for anyone who likes his other works. The individual essays will appeal to anyone with a quirky, intellectual, but not stuck-up sense of humor -- think Monty Python -- but given the biographical stuff, I would recommend reading his other works first.

Feels
Fun, incredibly insightful, beautiful, silly, down to earth, smart.

Favorites
Discovering Adams' peculiar love of music.

Least favorites
The reason the book was (had to be) written. Sadface.

Writing style
Smart, practical, outrageous, insightful, intellectual, silly, imaginative,
full of weird metaphors... Douglas Adams is a writing style unto himself.

Glamour Addiction // Juliet McMains

An exploration of the social and economic factors behind the glamorous world of competitive ballroom dancing, based on the author's personal experience, interviews, and limited research into similar ethnographies.  

 
Why I'm reading 
I've been participating in competitive ballroom dancing for nearly ten years now, so I wanted to check out what sort of literature is out there.

Where I got the book
Interlibrary Loan from the Berlin-Peck Memorial Library.

Expectations
A researched look into how the ballroom industry works. I've seen a preview, and it seemed a little wordy.

So how was it? 

Glamour Addiction is an exploration of the "Glamour Machine" that drives the American ballroom industry.

Honestly... I couldn't really get into it. She has some excellent insight, but ignores many aspects of the ballroom world that don't fit her model of an omnipresent oppressive glamor machine. Every point she made brought to mind similar experiences in my own ballroom career, but tons of counter examples too. And many of her points are just subjective opinion masquerading as fact.

Recommendation
This will really only appeal to ballroom dancers. I would recommend it to pro/am dancers (both pro and amateur). BUT I would only recommend with a warning: this is an interesting perspective, but not the be-all and end-all of the ballroom world.

Feels
Jaded. Even just a few pages in, I started to feel the author's resentment of her chosen profession. 

Favorites 
She makes a lot of painfully true points about the intersection of immigration and ballroom, and the image professional dancers must project. She's certainly made me think about certain relationships in the studios I visit... not rethink, because the relationships are pretty obvious, but to put them in the context of a bigger social system.

Least favorites 
Not one of her characters isn't hustling, struggling, or taking advantage of someone. No student who respects their teacher and just wants to dance. No am/am partnerships. No happy, fair, supportive studio owner with a white picket fence and two kids. No teens having fun and helping to pay for college. I know these people. I know they may not be the majority, but to simply ignore their resistance because they don't fit her thesis is a joke. 

Writing style
Bounces erratically between formal academic language and flowery prose. You can tell that the author has glued together several smaller essays.